Xoutpost.com - Oil change between service visits

Xoutpost.com (https://xoutpost.com/forums.php)

- X5 (E53) Forum (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/)

- - Oil change between service visits (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/28326-oil-change-between-service-visits.html)

I've probably changed the engine oil on a BMW around 30 times and I've never seen any debris in the pleets - not to say I tore the pleats out and flatened the media for inspection - but no debris non the less.

We can see down to 40 microns? So debris larger than that is probably minimal. What about contaminents smaller than that? To much of that stuff and the filter would start to restrict oil flow. I'm not sure if the M62TU or the N62 has an oil pressure sensor and where in the flow it would be located (before or after the filter). Hopefully the sensor (assuming it exists) would let you know there is a problem before the media would fail and allow unfiltered oil to bypass...

15,000 does seem long, I think if I owned my X I would change it sooner especially if the oil was down a quart.

My Rav 4 requires oil change every 5,000 miles, the interval used to be longer and then they had a lot trouble with slug. Yes I know a BMW takes more oil but 15,000 or one year seems long.

Hi, I was just reading somethings while searching. The PO gave me 2 oil filters when I got the X, it was the bigger ones. But I recently ordered the kit for the oilchange from ECS and i got the smaller filter.

Mine is a 06 with N62. Im confused, can the bigger filter still be used? and why would he have the bigger filter? Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by ripp222 (Post 471572)

This appears to be a good thread to read in regards to oil change frequency... I change the oil at 7500 miles, necessary or not, it gives piece of mind.

One topic that hasn't come up much is filter area...
My other rides have the M62TU V8 engine which uses the 11-42-7-510-717 FILTER KIT. This uses a filter having 73 pleats, each side being 18 mm deep, and 144 mm long. This means each pleat has 5184 square mm. At 73 pleats this is 378,432 mm square or about 0.378 square meters of surface area.

Now fast forward to the N62 engine which uses the 11-42-7-511-161 FILTER KIT, which uses a filter having 70 pleats, each side being 15 mm deep, and 89 mm long. This means each pleat has 2670 square mm. At 70 pleats this is 186,900 mm square or about 0.187 square meters of surface area.

0.187 / 0.378 = approximately 50%
With half the surface area to hold debris, I say all the more reason to increase the oil change interval... despite there being 1 more quart of oil in the N62 oil pan. Comments anyone??

(hope Bimmerboard doesn't mind hosting a photo):
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/r...20Elements.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpgx5 (Post 697170)

You can only use the filter that fits. If the one you take out is the small one (and since that is the one the parts book shows), that is what goes back in. The previous owner probably had more than one BMW at some point in time, and gave you two of the wrong filter.

When i first heard my local BMW dealer tell me that I only had to change the oil in my 03 X5 4.6is annually(basically every 15k) I thought he was crazy...I have always done my own oil changes with my father on all of our families cars and always been done at the very common 3k...After doing much involved research I have found that I guess my dealer was right...but that does not mean that I have to agree with it...So I compromised..and I change mine every 7,500 miles...and that makes me sleep better :D

I change mine every 4,000 KM, gives me peace of mind really. I also change out my air filter every year.

I agree with those that have said that it might be possible to run the oil for the full service interval but the filter might start to break down. I let my 3.0 run the full service interval once and when i went to change the oil the oil filter looked terrible. It was gunked up with oil and the paper seemed like it was going to start breaking apart. Since then, I change my own oil and I do it half way through the oil service interval. I agree that it is not that expensive to keep our cars in good condition. It is worth it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sethro (Post 697261)

I change mine every 4,000 KM, gives me peace of mind really. I also change out my air filter every year.

Your oil change frequency is six times the manufacturer's recommendation? That is a lot of peace of mind.

Here are pictures of a BMW engine that followed the manufacturer's recommendations.

What surprises me are the posters who change oil much more frequently than recommended, but who don't change the brake fluid every 24 months, or replace the coolant when due (not pointing at you, I suspect you do both of those :thumbup:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL (Post 697345)

Haha thanks I actually do have to flush the coolant but with temps hitting -20 degrees its really hard to get motivated. The reason I do it so frequently is because my trips are very short and the Canadian winters (esp ontario+calgary) are very frosty, I never hit the highways at all so its mostly just stop and go traffic for me. But I agree with you on the 15,000miles change interval, why would BMW want owners to damage there engines and potentially damage the BMW brand.